Multitrack power factor correction architecture

Single-phase universal-input ac-dc converters are needed in a wide range of applications. This paper presents a novel power factor correction (PFC) architecture that can achieve high power density and high efficiency as a new development of the Multitrack concept [1]. The proposed Multitrack PFC architecture reduces the internal device voltage stress of the power converter subsystems, allowing PFC circuits to maintain zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) at high frequencies (HF, 1–3 MHz) across universal input voltage range (85Vac-265Vac) and wide power range. The high performance of the power converter is enabled by delivering power in multiple stacked voltage domains and reconfiguring the power processing paths depending on the input voltage. This Multitrack concept is compatible with a wide range of existing design techniques for PFC systems. A prototype 150W, universal ac input, 12V
DC
output, isolated Multitrack PFC system with a power density of 50W/inch
³
and a peak end-to-end efficiency of 92% has been built and tested to verify the effectiveness of the Multitrack PFC architecture.